Flushing device



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2 Sheets-Sheet 1 James A. Gray INVENTOR.

1 BY Mm M III I I" a g I Attorney! Jan. 13, 1959 Filed May 23, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 4 I2 7 Fig. 5 W 7 as 64 K 50 2/ W Q .//4

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FLUSHING DEVICE James A. Gray, San Francisco, Caliitl, assignor to Alessandra Gray, Rome, Italy Application May 23, 1957, Serial No. 661,222

4 Claims. (Cl. 251-49) This invention relates to a flushing device that is adapted to be operatively connected with a toilet 'bowl in order to replace the open tank.

An object of the invention is to provide a sealed and comparatively noiseless flushing device which may be built in the toilet bowl or located adjacent to the toilet bowl. The flushing device consists essentially of a sealed container which encloses a movable sleeve valve in which a piston is slidable. Through an organization of locks and springs, water under pressure of the system augmented by spring pressure, is caused to flow into the toilet bowl. After a sulficient charge of Water passes into the bowl, causing complete flushing, the device automatically resets and then recycles in response to the pressure of the water in the water supply system of the town, city, etc. In this way the flushing device automatically readies itself for subsequent flushing.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a practical flushing device which is both rapid and very quiet, the flushing device being of such construction that it is easily manufactured and occupies a small volume. The Water handled in the flushing device is caused to flow very promptly into the toilet bowl after the flushing handle is actuated.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation schematically representing one suggested installation of a flushing device constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of a flushing device of my invention, the device being shown in a position Where it would be filled with water and ready for a flushing operation;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the upper part of the flushing device'of Figure 2 as it would appear shortly after turning the actuating handle to the flush position; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the flushing device showing the parts in the relative positions that they will occupy when the flush operation has been almost completed, the parts being arranged where they would appear just prior to the closing of the discharge port of the device by the sleeve valve.

In the accompanying drawings there is a toilet bowl 10 which is intended to be typical of any manufacturers make and type of presently used toilet bowl. Flushing device 12 which exemplifies the invention, is shown mounted at the back of the toilet bowl iii and with a line (unshown) that would be operatively connected to the back of the toilet bowl to conduct the flush water Patented Jen. is, 1959 thereinto. It is to be clearly understood that flushing device 10 need not necessarily be mounted in this location with respect to the toilet bowl lil but may be built in the toilet bowl and may be remote therefrom with a longer pipe line leading from the device .12 to the toilet bowl water inlet.

Device 12 consists of a container M that has a side wall 16 (preferably cylindrical) and a bottom wall 18 connected to the side wall l6. Vent 2G is formed in the bottom wall in the spring lug 22 on which coil spring 24 is seated. The upper wall 26 of container 14 has an inlet 28 which is adapted to connect to the local source of water under pressure, as by pipe line Bil. Top wall 26 also has'an opening through which spindle passes, this spindle having an operating handle 34 attached to it.. The handle has a bonnet 36 at one end which houses spring 38, the latter reacting on an inner surface of bonnet 36 and aw ear plate itl that is attached to top wall 26 thereby providing the necessary friction that offers resistance to free spinning movement of the handle 34. Packing is around spindle to pre vent leakage at this location. A flushing water dis charge pipe 44 is registered with the water outlet an that is formed in the. side wall 16 of container This water pipe 44 is adapted to operatively connect with the toilet bowl 10 in the manner previously described.

Sleeve valve 56 is vertically reciprocably disposed in the container 14 and if necessary, piston rings are lo cated between the inner surfaces of wall Elsi and the outer surface of the sleeve valve 5E3. Stop 5 in the form of a collar, is mounted at the top of contain "-d vli and is adapted to be abutted by the sleeve valve so tends across a central aperture 67 in top wall 64) of sleeve valve 50. Cam surfaces 72 formed along the side Walls of a slot in socket '74 at the lower end of spindle 32, are used for rotating the handle as sleeve valve 50 is elevated until the handle is locked in place by pin 66 coming to rest on a land in the slot. Conversely, when the handle 34 is manually rotated to flush the toilet, pin 66 is separated from its land thereby enabling spring 64 which is now in the compressed state, (Figure 2) to push valve 50 downward in container 14 thereby opening port 46.

Two latches 78 and 80 are attached to the top wall 26 and extend downwardly into container 14%. These latches are made of material capable of being sprung outwardly (Figure 5) but able to return to the initial position (Figure 2). Certain grades of spring steel or other metal are suitable for this purpose. The latches. have stops 81 and 82 formed on the inner surfaces thereof and cam surfaces 85 and 86 above the stops ill and 82.

Piston 83 is mounted for reciprocation in the bore 89 of sleeve valve 50. If considered necessary or desirable piston rings may be applied on the piston to preserve a proper substantially liquid tight seal between the valve and the piston. There is a downwardly opening cup 9i formed in the bottom of the piston 88 in order to seat piston 88, annular I cam -9l.-- being adapted tocome intocontact with cam surfaces 93-and 94 formed at the end of locks 78 and 80 and spread these locks to release the top wall 6ft of sleeve-valve-tl-fronr' engagement therewith and allow the top'wal-l together with the re mainder of sleeve valve SiD 'to-be-elevated by the stored in spring 64 pushes the sleeve valve 50*d0WI1W8Id' in con-'1 tainer 14 and thereby opens the port- 46'.-

Water from the water inlet pipe Ettl-isthen capable' of flowing across the top inner part of container l l and through discharge port 46.

As the sleeve valve h'tlmovesin-a downward direction, a small part 970i the top wall tvtl'of sleeve valve 5t rides over the cam surfaces 85- and debt thelocks 78 and Sit, spreading the locks apart. The valve '50 moves down far enough so that thepart- 97 snapsbeneath the stops 81 and S2 of locks 7% and it thereby'retaining the sleeve valve 5% in the open position.

At the time of this action, the pressure on the upper surface of piston SS is relieved by opening valve port 46. This relief of pressure enables the stored energy in spring 24 to lift the piston upwardly thereby emptying the water supply from within the bore 89 of sleeve valve 50 and pushing it through discharge port 46. This additional Water augments the supplyof water which passes from inlet pipe Zitl andfiows through port 46. Such additional water assures that complete and proper flushing of the trap in the toilet bowl it takes place.

When the piston 8% reaches the upper extremity of its travel (Figure 5) the annular cam 91 spreads the locks 78 and 60 causing the stops 31 and 82 thereof to become separated from part 97 of the top wall dtl of' sleeve valve 50. In attaining this height, piston 38 compresses spring 52 against. the lower surface of the top wall as of valve Sit, and when the locks 78 and are released, the stored energy in the compressed spring 52,-"

pushes the valve 5t) upward and in the valve port 46 closing position (Figure 2). At the same time the pin 66 is pushed into the cam lock, riding on the cam slot'7Z and becoming disposed in the land thereof. This automaticallyrresets the actuating handle, closes valve port 46 and enables the water under pressure to enter port 28 and again depress piston. 88. which automatically recharges the container with a supply ofwaterpreparatory to another flushing operation.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ,of. the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and de scribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed asnew is as'follows:

1. A flushing device for a toilet bowl, said flushing device comprising a container having an inlet port and an outlet port, a sleeve valve movably disposed in said container and arranged to control said outlet port, a piston slidably disposed in said sleeve valve, said piston being exposed to the pressure of the water of said inlet port, a spring reactingon'said piston and compressed by said pressure whereby upon release of said pressure said spring pushes said piston in'a directionto displace-the water and move the water through said'discharge port and when said sleeve valve is moved to a discharge port opening position, means carried by said container and operable from the exterior thereof for releasably locking said sleeve valve in the discharge port closing position,

and a spring reacting on said sleeve valve to push said sleeve valve to the discharge port open position in response to release of. said locking means.

2. A flushing device fora toilet bowl, said'flushing" device comprising a container having-an inlet port and an outlet'port, a sleeve valve movably disposed'in' said container and arranged to control said outlet port, a

piston slidably disposed in said sleeve Valve, said piston being exposed to the pressure of the water of said-inlet port, a spring reacting on said piston and compressed by said pressure whereby upon release of said pressuresaid spring pushes said piston in a direction to displace the water and move the water through said discharge port and when-said sleeve valve is moved to a discharge port opening position,- meanscarried by said container and operable from the exteriorthereoffor-releasably locking apertured top Wall, a sleeve valvereturn spring reacting 1 on the bottom surface of said top wall of said sleeve valve and contactible by said piston'when said piston is elevated, thereby to return said piston to the valve discharge port closing position, and means includingat least one lock for holding said sleeve'valve in the discharge port open position until said lock is released by the upward movement of said piston.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said lock cornprises a flexible member carried by said container and 7 having a stop against which a part of said top Wall of said sleeve valve is adapted to seat.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein there is a cam" on the upper surface of said piston which is engageable with said flexible member to push said flexible member in a direction to separate said stop from said part of said wall of said sleeve valve.

Pleterences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES FATENTS' 1,794,640 Owens Mar. 3, 1931 

